Pashley Cycles claimed it could have created ten jobs if it had won the contract to supply the 5,000 bikes for use on the streets of the West Midlands.

A Santander London Hire Bike at the Pashley Factory in Stratford on Avon. (Image: SIMON FOSTER)

But Transport for the West Midlands, which awarded the contract, argued nextbike made a preferable bid - offering more bikes at lower cost to the consumer and fitting in with a new Swift card system for the region.